I soft-locked my Madden Franchise and decided to start over.

Amazing. The only position we don't have a "Star" or better is LOLB. There's more silver and gold here than the Offense. Mind you - the numbers are still low and an 82 is still a mediocre defense. But there are some rising stars in the mix...

Yes, Go, I know that Madden isn't real life.... But I think this speaks to the perception of the Bengals at the start of the 2024 season. It's amazing how far they have fallen.

I'll even call out the game having Trent Brown as an 89 - making him far and away our best O-Lineman. Which is silly no matter how you slice it. Trent Brown was never that good.

And FWIW, I immediately traded Stone and picked up Justin Simmons as a Free Agent for an instant upgrade. (89) And having Mike Hilton as your #1 CB is asking to get gashed by go routes.

9 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

I soft-locked my Madden Franchise and decided to start over.

Amazing. The only position we don't have a "Star" or better is LOLB. There's more silver and gold here than the Offense. Mind you - the numbers are still low and an 82 is still a mediocre defense. But there are some rising stars in the mix...

Yes, Go, I know that Madden isn't real life.... But I think this speaks to the perception of the Bengals at the start of the 2024 season. It's amazing how far they have fallen.

I'll even call out the game having Trent Brown as an 89 - making him far and away our best O-Lineman. Which is silly no matter how you slice it. Trent Brown was never that good.

And FWIW, I immediately traded Stone and picked up Justin Simmons as a Free Agent for an instant upgrade. (89) And having Mike Hilton as your #1 CB is asking to get gashed by go routes.

yeah the end of a viable group of guys who are all worthless in the league as legit starters, trey hurt all year, Wilson traded for nothing, paid him to leave and got benched AGAIN in dallas, pratt sucks, ADG was the weak link we let walk anyway, CTB sucks, at the time he was trending up, he immediately trenede down like 3 games into that season..

Hil land Jenkins are legit starters they just arent stars.. hubbard retired, played hurt all year and sucked because of it..

2024 was a year where we neede dsome youth to develop and get reps and move into bigger roles..

not only did they not get the reps, we played old wasted guys who sucked instead, so we still sucked and didnt develop anyone.. which is why Lou was kindly asked to relocate where he works.

this year should have been half done last year, 400 guys also got hurt, record breaking levels of injuries.. which didnt help the progress, but still some steps we could have got out of the way last year we didnt get out of the way.. instead our DC trashed young players in the media like they were idiots, when he really jhust wanted to start his slow AF old washed vets he had..

soa half season into al golden and the defense getting on the same page Myles Murphy looks like a legit starting tallent, perhaps not a star or anything but a legit adult grown up first round pick productive useful DE.....

if he has a good year next year,, and Dax continues his perfmance of being a top corner alongside DJ, all who failed under Lou...

how long before the bengals get credit for firing lou for refusing to use good talent he was given? never, i assume.

there are coaches who can take what they are given and get the best out of it and there are coaches with top tallent can be great.. and it seems lou is the second one. defiantly loudly so in the meetings last year from what i understand.

pretty wild how these things dont leak within 24 hrs in the bengals organization, if Lou acted the way he did on the Jags there would be a news report about it before he got him that day..

it feels like Lou and also injuries, set back the defensive overhaul from the old group to a new group.

anyone listen to logan wilsons podcast? he talk about his feeling of leaving and then geting benched right away in dallas? he seems confused at his skill level.

this year also feels, to me, like a sign of a good call not giving trey a long term deal, he was hurt every year, he played through it, missed some drives, played in pain, props for all hat,, but his body is breaking down, being locked into 30 mil for him next season would be pretty unpleasant. he would have been huge to have healthy this season.. but that difdnt work out.. time to move on unless you wanna milk a pick out of tag and trading him

but at a tag number whos giving anything over a 4th?

At the combine, the Bengals can talk to other teams. The league is always looking for pass rush. Trey's value is lower now than a year ago but I'd bet they can get a mid 2nd round pick for him in a tag and trade scenario. Lots of teams with plenty of cap space in need of pass rush. Bengals among them but they're probably ready to move on.

On 1/15/2026 at 8:44 PM, GoBengals said:

this year also feels, to me, like a sign of a good call not giving trey a long term deal, he was hurt every year, he played through it, missed some drives, played in pain, props for all hat,, but his body is breaking down, being locked into 30 mil for him next season would be pretty unpleasant. he would have been huge to have healthy this season.. but that difdnt work out.. time to move on unless you wanna milk a pick out of tag and trading him

but at a tag number whos giving anything over a 4th?

That is the most bizarre and factually incorrect take I have ever read on this site, and that's saying something.

9 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

That is the most bizarre and factually incorrect take I have ever read on this site, and that's saying something.

Any comments claimed most bizarre would have many suitors at the door.

Makes the board very interesting..

13 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

That is the most bizarre and factually incorrect take I have ever read on this site, and that's saying something.

For the record, Trey Hendrickson never missed more than 2 starts in a Bengals season - before this year. You'd have to go back to 2019 with the Saints to find another significant injury. Whether he's worn out now is conjecture but.. them's the facts, Jack.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendTr00.htm

Just one example of the trash you have to wade through for info:

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/trey-hendrickson-announces-career-move-165751330.html

The "career move away from the Bengals" is actually a reality show, then Fowler from ESPN talking out of his ass. They may yet tag him for all we know. Unless I missed something? Nowhere is he quoted as saying shit about returning.

"While the move hasn’t seen him leave the Bengals, it does move away from the franchise to a different field."

So the misleading headline was deliberate and they're advertising a show. Garbage.

2 hours ago, T-Dub said:

For the record, Trey Hendrickson never missed more than 2 starts in a Bengals season - before this year. You'd have to go back to 2019 with the Saints to find another significant injury. Whether he's worn out now is conjecture but.. them's the facts, Jack.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendTr00.htm

Trey is a very "Young 30" compared to the mileage on Miles Garrett.

This weird contingent of haters who are still grinding an axe over contract drama that should have never happened... They're rooting against the best Pass Rusher the Bengals have ever had. Another big piece of that Super Bowl run. Over money that isn't theirs.

I mean - I'm beefing here. The Bengals finished the year with $10M in unspent cap space. They could have paid Trey $10M more this year and had no effect on next year - which they enter at #7 in the league in free cap space. Remember - the people who claimed poverty back in August? Even after caving to a single season demand.... They still had money left over and plenty of free cap.

So - T-Dub - May i supersede your point?? May I state this with emphasis and clarity that hopefully ends this 1000% nonsense narrative that has been invented out of thin air?

Prior to this last year, Trey either led or tied for sacks each year. He did that while sandbagging and not really trying??? He decided to lead the league and sacks while missing too much time with injury? I mean - honestly - do you folks ever read back what you type? He did all of that playing through pain with a body breaking down on him? 17.5 sacks two years in a row?

Man - imagine what he'd do if properly motivated then. Gosh - he's going to finally be able to come back strong after having an off-season to recover and get surgery. I mean... I wouldn't pay him $40M a year Garrett money, but maybe $30M with bonuses.... You know... $35M if he walks on water and heals the blind. I might even give him a grubby kernel of my grudging respect. If he REALLY earns it. I mean, he WAS injured this year in a full contact sport. What a pussy.

I mean.... FFS. Get over yourself.

If Trey Hendrickson played for the Falcons, you'd all be trying to figure out how to trade for him. So miss me with the mewling butthurt. Peace.

11 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

Trey is a very "Young 30" compared to the mileage on Miles Garrett.

This weird contingent of haters who are still grinding an axe over contract drama that should have never happened... They're rooting against the best Pass Rusher the Bengals have ever had. Another big piece of that Super Bowl run. Over money that isn't theirs.

I mean - I'm beefing here. The Bengals finished the year with $10M in unspent cap space. They could have paid Trey $10M more this year and had no effect on next year - which they enter at #7 in the league in free cap space. Remember - the people who claimed poverty back in August? Even after caving to a single season demand.... They still had money left over and plenty of free cap.

So - T-Dub - May i supersede your point?? May I state this with emphasis and clarity that hopefully ends this 1000% nonsense narrative that has been invented out of thin air?

Prior to this last year, Trey either led or tied for sacks each year. He did that while sandbagging and not really trying??? He decided to lead the league and sacks while missing too much time with injury? I mean - honestly - do you folks ever read back what you type? He did all of that playing through pain with a body breaking down on him? 17.5 sacks two years in a row?

Man - imagine what he'd do if properly motivated then. Gosh - he's going to finally be able to come back strong after having an off-season to recover and get surgery. I mean... I wouldn't pay him $40M a year Garrett money, but maybe $30M with bonuses.... You know... $35M if he walks on water and heals the blind. I might even give him a grubby kernel of my grudging respect. If he REALLY earns it. I mean, he WAS injured this year in a full contact sport. What a pussy.

I mean.... FFS. Get over yourself.

If Trey Hendrickson played for the Falcons, you'd all be trying to figure out how to trade for him. So miss me with the mewling butthurt. Peace.

This stuff where anyone who gets on the wrong side of management is suddenly a washed up, asshole, dbag, greedy, etc etc..

Imagine being an outside observer of a conflict with the Bengals FO and taking their side. Based on what? Their steady, methodical pursuit of excellence? The transparency and determination to tackle any problem head-on? The tireless effort to improve?

So yeah, I guess Logan Wilson is an asshole now.. Riiiight.

26 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

This stuff where anyone who gets on the wrong side of management is suddenly a washed up, asshole, dbag, greedy, etc etc..

Imagine being an outside observer of a conflict with the Bengals FO and taking their side. Based on what? Their steady, methodical pursuit of excellence? The transparency and determination to tackle any problem head-on? The tireless effort to improve?

So yeah, I guess Logan Wilson is an asshole now.. Riiiight.

Do you know who is turning 30, and has been injured a lot and ended the season with protective orthotics?? But shhhhh.... The Golden Boy didn't have to ask for more money so he's untouchable.

There are the same people who warned us we couldn't afford Jesse Bates. Not only are they wrong, but we spent just as much trying to replace him, spent draft picks, and wound up with Geno Stone. Can't re-sign an injured D.J Reader... What if he misses time??? So we got Sheldon Rankins who played zero snaps for us. If we resign Chase and Higgins we'll be too poor to sign anyone else!! Salary cap hell! So let's wait a year and give both of then 3-4M extra a season instead. And still have the 7th most cap space in the league.

So, here we are - It's a good time to post Mortem the Trey contract drama of the last two years as well. Because we could have just signed him to a long term extension back then.

He had a year in which he was a DPOY candidate on a historically bad defense. He had another year that he frankly, decided to sit out for surgery rather than risk his future. And even then he waited for us to be out of playoff contention before making that decision.

Heck, this year went as badly for Trey as could be hoped for his detractors... And I saw a post from Lance yesterday explaining why we HAD to resign him. Now we get to bid for him against the rest of the league without the "We can Franchise him" leverage you turgid accountants were so smug about last time.

If we had extended him 2-3 years back when he was willing to give us a lil' hometown discount even, we'd be at the end of that deal anyway. Next year with a three year deal. Probably for slightly less money, and with a guy who is still happy to be a Bengal.

JFC. How ling have I been arguing that the Bengals should just give Trey a fair long term deal? And each year, the prospect goes form that being an "Until 32, 33, 34..." proposition. He's GOING to get a two year deal minimum next year. He'll probably get some three year offers if he signals that is his price.

So... Here we sit. $10M under the cap at the end of the season. And that's after "Using" some of this year's cap to absorb the dead money hits for Wilson and Pratt. Another $7M. In Joe Burrows' most expensive year. With no cap creativity required. After having greedy ol' Trey hold us up for $30M in ransom money. The storm we've been told was coming came, and... Ummm, and...

Meanwhile, I'm sure the Rams have never recovered from risking everything on their Super Bowl run. The Eagles must have been terrible this year with their whole "salary cap hell" sitch. Right?

So, for all of the Chicken Littles who have defended this FO not signing guys - I was right. We should have signed Trey two years ago to a long term deal. We should have signed him last year to a long term deal. We are going to TRY and sign him this year. Not resigning one of the leagues Top 5 pass rushers and not letting that guy just be a content leader in our locker room.... How do you guys not see the obvious????? How?

"Gee why do we always start slow??" asks the fanbase who roots for the Front Office to hold out with key players until the last pre-season game. Remember to close your mouths so you don't drown staring up at the rain.

Are you fans of football or full contact accounting? The salary cap has ruined the sport if you're rooting for a player to be affordable instead of great.

10 minutes ago, LostInDaJungle said:

Do you know who is turning 30, and has been injured a lot and ended the season with protective orthotics?? But shhhhh.... The Golden Boy didn't have to ask for more money so he's untouchable.

There are the same people who warned us we couldn't afford Jesse Bates. Not only are they wrong, but we spent just as much trying to replace him, spent draft picks, and wound up with Geno Stone. Can't re-sign an injured D.J Reader... What if he misses time??? So we got Sheldon Rankins who played zero snaps for us. If we resign Chase and Higgins we'll be too poor to sign anyone else!! Salary cap hell! So let's wait a year and give both of then 3-4M extra a season instead. And still have the 7th most cap space in the league.

So, here we are - It's a good time to post Mortem the Trey contract drama of the last two years as well. Because we could have just signed him to a long term extension back then.

He had a year in which he was a DPOY candidate on a historically bad defense. He had another year that he frankly, decided to sit out for surgery rather than risk his future. And even then he waited for us to be out of playoff contention before making that decision.

Heck, this year went as badly for Trey as could be hoped for his detractors... And I saw a post from Lance yesterday explaining why we HAD to resign him. Now we get to bid for him against the rest of the league without the "We can Franchise him" leverage you turgid accountants were so smug about last time.

If we had extended him 2-3 years back when he was willing to give us a lil' hometown discount even, we'd be at the end of that deal anyway. Next year with a three year deal. Probably for slightly less money, and with a guy who is still happy to be a Bengal.

JFC. How ling have I been arguing that the Bengals should just give Trey a fair long term deal? And each year, the prospect goes form that being an "Until 32, 33, 34..." proposition. He's GOING to get a two year deal minimum next year. He'll probably get some three year offers if he signals that is his price.

So... Here we sit. $10M under the cap at the end of the season. And that's after "Using" some of this year's cap to absorb the dead money hits for Wilson and Pratt. Another $7M. In Joe Burrows' most expensive year. With no cap creativity required. After having greedy ol' Trey hold us up for $30M in ransom money. The storm we've been told was coming came, and... Ummm, and...

Meanwhile, I'm sure the Rams have never recovered from risking everything on their Super Bowl run. The Eagles must have been terrible this year with their whole "salary cap hell" sitch. Right?

So, for all of the Chicken Littles who have defended this FO not signing guys - I was right. We should have signed Trey two years ago to a long term deal. We should have signed him last year to a long term deal. We are going to TRY and sign him this year. Not resigning one of the leagues Top 5 pass rushers and not letting that guy just be a content leader in our locker room.... How do you guys not see the obvious????? How?

"Gee why do we always start slow??" asks the fanbase who roots for the Front Office to hold out with key players until the last pre-season game. Remember to close your mouths so you don't drown staring up at the rain.

Are you fans of football or full contact accounting? The salary cap has ruined the sport if you're rooting for a player to be affordable instead of great.

Signing Trey is a good football move.

Upgrades the pass rush.

Scenario.

Browns will nitpick any offering and he'll sign elsewhere..

13 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

Browns will nitpick any offering and he'll sign elsewhere..

They'll offer him a one year deal, and someone else will offer him three.

8 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

They'll offer him a one year deal, and someone else will offer him three.

Should probably tag him. They've got nothing else at DE beyond "potential"

31 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

Should probably tag him. They've got nothing else at DE beyond "potential"

9 hours ago, LostInDaJungle said:

They'll offer him a one year deal, and someone else will offer him three.

Murphy and Stewart are 1st rounders.

They were showing.imorovement.

Trey would add to rotation.

sign Ossai to back Stewart .

Then solidify interior.

Can now draft any position deemed needed.

2 hours ago, T-Dub said:

Should probably tag him. They've got nothing else at DE beyond "potential"

Nah. This was Trey's last year. The relationship went sour in the offseason, and now even the family is like "We didn't get the value".

Whoever is out there will have to step up. Hubbard leaving was good in the long run for the younger players.

DE is not our most pressing need by a long shot. Defense builds from the base premise that you have got to be able to keep the run game under 3.3 ypc. Your base scheme HAS to account for that because then the passing game is no longer a luxury for the other team and they HAVE to pass. You're making them take risks. This is what coordinators mean about "taking control of the game".

We need a Geno. We need a DJ.

We have a ton of money to spend. So:
Jaylinn Hawkins - he gives us options at Safety. $10-12M A smart guy who can play both positions and is a good backfield communicator. Replaces Stone.
Odafe Oweh - $18-22M is a better than solid pass rusher and a good veteran influence. Can act a mentor to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Manbun.

D Line depth is crap around the league. There's a premium on fat guys. Reader and Ogjunobi are some of the better FA's next year. So - As Duke says, you have to look at the 3-Tech spot. Those guys are literally unavailable elsewhere - and this draft is crawling with them. I'm would plan to take 2. You need a man in the middle that commands a double team, and then run defense is 7 against 5. (QB and the 2 on 1) Woods or McDonald makes this defense better than Downs does, IMHO.

7 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

Murphy and Stewart are 1st rounders.

They were showing.imorovement.

Trey would add to rotation.

sign Ossai to back Stewart .

Then solidify interior.

Can now draft any position deemed needed.

Stewart was showing improvement? Compared to what?

1 hour ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Stewart was showing improvement? Compared to what?

No comparison.

I like the athleticism he has to contain the edge.

Murphy is the blindside rusher.

Their style can be similar to Trey+Sam combo..

2 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

Their style can be similar to Trey+Sam combo..

There is New York style pizza...and actual New York pizza. Lotsa difference!

4 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Stewart was showing improvement? Compared to what?

If those 2 are the starting DE's next year we're going to have an even worse defense.

14 minutes ago, T-Dub said:

If those 2 are the starting DE's next year we're going to have an even worse defense.

Honestly, they could be good ingredients - we just need a much better mixture.

10 minutes ago, LostInDaJungle said:

Honestly, they could be good ingredients - we just need a much better mixture.

Sure, there's a possibility that by the middle of next season they're starting to look pretty good. Team might be 3-5 by then - the record during their Big Improvement this season - but whatever, I guess.

1 hour ago, Le Tigre said:

There is New York style pizza...and actual New York pizza. Lotsa difference!

Understood

Just showing the roles they will play

I'm good with these bookends although many want more..

1 hour ago, T-Dub said:

If those 2 are the starting DE's next year we're going to have an even worse defense.

Why? You think they can't improve?

I do ..we differ

4 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

Why? You think they can't improve?

I do ..we differ

Oh, I'm certain they will. How many more games are you willing to lose waiting for them to maybe get up to speed?

My number is zero. Unfortunately the team is more concerned with validating the decisions of the FO.